Reproofing

Our current turnaround time is 2 weeks.

Outerwear Reproofing

What is the purpose of a wash and reproof?

The main reason to wash and reproof waterproof items is to revive the aqua repellent system (DWR) coating on the product.

What is an aqua repellent system?

Virtually all waterproof clothing has a coating on the outside known as an aqua repellent system, this includes products by GORE-TEX®, Sympatex®, eVENT®, Aquafoil®, and HyVent®. This system is most commonly referred to as DWR (durable water repellent).

The DWR coating is essentially a products first line of defence against water and is an essential part of the products overall performance. Its primary job is to prevent water saturating the material by altering the surface properties of the fabric. When the DWR is performing well, water droplets maintain a rounder shape resembling a bead and should roll off the product.

What should I look out for?

When the DWR coating is breaking down, water will stop running off the jacket and start to saturate the jackets exterior. It generally looks like dark wet spots around the product. If the product has a waterproof membrane on the inside, the DWR failure doesn't necessarily mean you will get wet but will instead leave you feeling damp and clammy.

What breaks down the DWR coating?

The coating will always break down over time but the most common cause is dirt build up on the exterior.

How often should a product be reproofed?

There is no strict rule on how frequently an item should be reproofed. It depends largely on how often it is used and the intensity of the activities. If an item is used regularly and gets regular exposure to the elements, it should probably be reproofed every 3-4 months to keep it performing at its best.

If your item isn't used often, reproofing every 6-12 months at the latest should be sufficient.

What is the process?

Once an item arrives with us, we will complete a visual inspection for any immediate problems that may reduce the effectiveness of the wash and reproof. The main thing we will be looking out for is signs that the waterproof membrane is beginning to delaminate. Once this inspection is completed, we then test small areas of the item on a hydrostatic head to look for any potential abrasions and to see how well the membrane is performing. If you believe there is a particular area of your product that is leaking, please let us know so we can test that area.

Once an item has passed the inspection and test, we will book it in for the wash. Alternatively, should we identify any problems, we will call you to advise and discuss other options where possible.

What products do we use?

We stock a variety of reproofing products including sprays and wash-in agents from leading brandings such as Nikwax and Grangers.